Repositionable Merchandising Strip

ABSTRACT

A repositionable merchandising display strip is provided. The display comprises a thin, flat body and a layer of adhesive on the front and back surfaces of the body. The front removable adhesive layer releasably holds products and the back removable adhesive layer is formulated so that the display can be removably adhered to a surface such as glass, wood, metal or other materials commonly found in retail stores. The display may further comprise a peel-away front layer releasably attached to the front removable adhesive layer and a peel-away back layer releasably attached to the back removable adhesive layer.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/943,147, filed Nov. 17, 2015. U.S. application Ser. No. 14/943,147 isincorporated here by reference in its entirety to provide continuity ofdisclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This disclosure relates to a retail display commonly referred to as amerchandising strip. More particularly, this disclosure relates to amerchandising strip that can be repositioned from one surface to anotherand that uses an adhesive to hold articles for display.

Description of the Related Art

Typical merchandizing strips comprise a plastic strip with verticallyarranged hooks or clips for holding products. The products may be almostany small, lightweight product, including packaged snack foods andconsumer products. The hooks and clips can make removing the productsfrom the strip cumbersome, often requiring the consumer to hold thestrip while removing the product.

The merchandising strips typically are suspended from a shelf or otherstructure by a hook, clip, patch of hook and loop fastening material,adhesive pad or other means. This hanging means limits potentiallocations where the products can be displayed. And the fact that suchstrips comprise multiple components adds to their cost and complexity.

Furthermore, such strips may lose their ability to communicate apoint-of-sale marketing message as the products are removed from thestrip.

The present disclosure is designed to solve the problems describedabove.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a repositionable merchandising displayfor displaying products. In one embodiment the repositionablemerchandising strip comprises a thin, flat body covered on both sideswith permanent adhesive, vinyl or other flexible plastic carriersadhered to the front and back permanent adhesives, a layer of frontremovable adhesive covering some or all of the front carrier toreleasably hold the products, and a layer of back removable adhesivecovering some or all of the back carrier. The strip can be removablyadhered to a vertical surface. The front removable adhesive layer andthe back removable adhesive layer may be layers of micro bead adhesivesthat do not form permanent bonds with the surface or with the products.

In a second embodiment the repositionable merchandising strip comprisesa thin, flat, flexible substrate having a front surface and a backsurface, a layer of front removable adhesive covering some or all of thefront surface and formulated to releasably hold the products 30, and alayer of back removable adhesive covering some or all of the backsurface. Again, the strip can be removably adhered to a verticalsurface. The substrate may be vinyl or other flexible plastic carrier.The layer of front removable adhesive and the layer of back removableadhesive may be micro bead adhesives that do not form permanent bondswith the surface or with the products.

In a third embodiment the repositionable merchandising strip compriseshooks or other attachment means to hold the products to the front of thestrip and a back removable adhesive layer so that the strip can berepositioned. More particularly, the strip comprises a thin, flat body,a layer of permanent adhesive covering some or all of the front and backsurfaces of the body, a carrier adhered to the back layer of adhesive, alayer of back removable adhesive disposed on some or all of the carrierand hooks or other attachment means adhered to the front surface of thebody by the front layer of permanent adhesive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a merchandising strip according to a firstembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the merchandising strip of FIG. 1taken along line 2-2.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the merchandising strip of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the merchandising strip of FIG. 1 shownbeing attached to a surface.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the merchandising strip of FIG. 1 shownattached to a surface and before a protective layer is peeled away.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the merchandising strip of FIG. 5 shownattached to a surface while a protective layer is being peeled away.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the merchandising strip of FIG. 6 shownattached to a surface after the protective layer is peeled away.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the merchandising strip of FIG. 7 shownwhile being repositioned on a surface.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the merchandising strip of FIG. 7 shownwith products.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of three merchandising strips according tothe first embodiment shown with products.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another merchandising strip accordingto the first embodiment shown with products.

FIG. 12 is a side view of a merchandising strip according to a secondembodiment.

FIG. 13 is a side view of a merchandising strip according to a thirdembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the invention described herein may be embodied in many forms,there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detailone or more embodiments with the understanding that this disclosure isto be considered an exemplification of the principles of the inventionand is not intended to limit the disclosure to the illustratedembodiments.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a repositionable merchandising strip 10according to a first embodiment. The strip 10 shown in the figure is “T”shaped, but it may be any suitable shape, including “I” shaped as shownin FIG. 10 and rectangular as shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the merchandising strip 10 of FIG. 1taken along line 2-2. The strip 10 comprises a thin, flat body 12 madeof plastic or other material. The body 12 may be a single layer ofmaterial as shown in the figure or it may be folded into two or morelayers. Regardless of the number of layers, the body 12 has a frontsurface 14 and a back surface 16. The strip 10 further comprises a layerof front permanent adhesive 46 applied to some or all of the frontsurface 14 and a layer of back permanent adhesive 48 applied to some orall of the back surface 16. The strip 10 further comprises a frontcarrier 47 adhered to the front permanent adhesive layer 46 and a backcarrier 49 adhered to the back permanent adhesive layer 48.

The strip 10 further comprises a layer of front removable adhesive 18applied to some or all of the front carrier 47 and a layer of backremovable adhesive 20 applied to some or all of the back carrier 49. Theremovable adhesives 18, 20 preferably are micro bead adhesives. The backremovable adhesive layer 20 used for all applications and the frontremovable adhesive layer 18 used for medium weight applications (inwhich the products 30 are medium weight products) may be a proprietaryacrylic based micro bead adhesive available from Service Litho-PrintInc. of Oshkosh, Wis. under the trademark Ex-Static®. The frontremovable adhesive layer 18 used for heavy applications (in which theproducts 30 are heavy weight products) may be a proprietary pressuresensitive rubber based adhesive (PSA) available from Essentra PlasticsLLC of Forest Park, Ill. under the trademark Remo One. Both of theseadhesives provide repositionable properties and do not form permanentbonds. By contrast, traditional adhesives used in foam tapes are madefrom vinyl acrylic which does create a permanent bond.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the merchandising strip 10 of FIG. 1. The strip10 may comprise a peel-away front layer 22 and a peel-away back layer24. Preferably the peel-away front layer 22 is releasably attached tothe front removable adhesive layer 18 and the peel-away back layer 24 isreleasably attached to the back removable adhesive layer 20.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the merchandising strip 10 of FIG. 1shown being attached to a surface 26, typically a vertical surface. Thepeel-away back layer 24 is being removed to expose the back removableadhesive layer 20.

The back removable adhesive layer 20 may cover the entire back surface16 of the strip 10, allowing the strip 10 to be mounted to a verticalsurface 26 in any orientation, including sideways, that is, with the topedge 28 on the side.

The strip 10 is unitary, that is, the body 12, the front and backpermanent adhesive layers 46, 48, the front and back carriers 47, 49,and the front and back removable adhesive layers 18, 20 form a singlestructure. This characteristic results in an inexpensive, easy toinstall strip 10. The front surface of the front carrier 47 may carrygraphics, text or other indicia for aesthetic, advertising or otherpurposes.

The front removable adhesive layer 18 and the back removable adhesivelayer 20 may be made from the same adhesive or different adhesives. Thefront removable adhesive layer 18 should be made from an adhesiveselected to adhere to plastic and other materials commonly used topackage items sold in retail stores, especially items displayed onmerchandising strips. The back removable adhesive layer 20 should bemade from an adhesive selected to adhere to glass, wood, metal and othertypes of materials commonly found in retail stores.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the merchandising strip 10 of FIG. 4shown attached to the vertical surface 26 but before the peel-away frontlayer 22 is removed.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the merchandising strip 10 of FIG. 5shown attached to the vertical surface 26 while the peel-away frontlayer 22 is being removed.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the merchandising strip 10 of FIG. 6shown attached to the vertical surface 26 after the peel-away frontlayer 22 has been removed. The front removable adhesive layer 18 allowsproducts to be removably adhered to the body front surface 14.

The back removable adhesive layer 20 allows the strip 10 to be removablyadhered to any flat surface and repositioned to the same or another flatsurface. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the merchandising strip 10shown while being repositioned on a surface 26.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the merchandising strip 10 of FIG. 7shown with products 30. The products 30 may be any suitable productsthat can be removably adhered to the front removable adhesive layer 18.The strip 10 may be made in any suitable shape or dimension to carry asmany products 30 as desired.

The front removable adhesive layer 18 should be suitably strong to holdthe weight of a single packaged product 30 of the kind that may bedisplayed on a merchandising strip. On the other hand, the backremovable adhesive layer 20 should be suitably strong to hold the weightof a number of packaged products 30 as well as the weight of the strip10 itself.

It may be preferable from a weight and adhesion standpoint to use thestrip 10 to display products packaged in flexible wrappers such aschips, candy bars, health food bars and the like. If the strip 10 isused to display rigid or semi-rigid products, it is preferred that eachproduct comprise a container having a flat surface on its mounting(back) side.

Preferably, the strip 10 is at least as wide as the products 30 tobetter communicate a point-of-sale marketing message as the products 30are removed from the strip 10.

The merchandising strip 10 described above is a T-shaped strip, but itshould be understood that the display can have any appropriate shape,including the two alternative shapes that will now be described.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of three I-shaped merchandising strips 32shown displaying a number of packaged products 34. The strips 32 areadhered to a vertical surface 36 in parallel. The products 34 may beadhered to one strip 32 or to multiple adjacent strips 32 as shown inthe figure.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a rectangular merchandising strip 40shown with products 42. The products 42 may be arranged in anyconvenient manner on the strip 40, and may be aligned vertically and/orhorizontally. The strip 40 has a first edge 44 and is positionable onthe surface 36 in any orientation, including with the first edge 44 atthe top as shown in the figure, with the first edge 44 on the side (byrotating the strip 40 ninety degrees either clockwise orcounterclockwise from the orientation shown in the figure), with thefirst edge 44 on the bottom, or any orientation in between.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 12 is a side view of a merchandising strip 50 according to a secondembodiment. The strip 50 comprises a flexible substrate 52, preferablymade of vinyl or other flexible material, having a front surface 54 anda back surface 56. The strip 50 further comprises a layer of frontremovable adhesive 58 applied to some or all of the front surface 54 anda layer of back removable adhesive 60 applied to some or all of the backsurface 56.

The removable adhesives 58, 60 preferably are micro bead adhesives. Theback removable adhesive layer 60 may be used for all applications andthe front removable adhesive layer 58 may be used for medium weightapplications (in which the products are medium weight products). Thefront removable adhesive layer 58 used for heavy applications (in whichthe products are heavy weight products) may be a proprietary pressuresensitive rubber based adhesive (PSA).

The strip 50 may further comprise a peel-away front layer 62 and apeel-away back layer 64. Preferably the peel-away front layer 62 isreleasably attached to the front removable adhesive layer 58 and thepeel-away back layer 64 is releasably attached to the back removableadhesive layer 60.

The substrate 52 may be a flexible strip made of vinyl or other flexiblematerial that allows the strip to 50 adhere to curved surfaces inaddition to flat surfaces. The substrate 52 may be 2 to 7 mil thick orany suitable thickness.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 13 is a perspective view a merchandising strip 70 according to athird embodiment. As shown in the figure, the strip 70 may include diecut hooks 100, clips or other means to secure products (not shown) tothe strip 70. More specifically, the strip 70 shown in FIG. 13 comprisesa body 72, which may be rigid or flexible, having a front surface 74 anda back surface 76. The strip 70 may further comprise a layer of backpermanent adhesive 80 applied to some or all of the back surface 76 anda back carrier 82 adhered to the back permanent adhesive layer 80. Thestrip 70 further comprises a layer of back removable adhesive 84 appliedto some or all of the back carrier 82 and a peel-away back layer 86releasably attached to the back removable adhesive layer 84. The hooks100 or other attachment means may be adhered to the front surface 74 ofthe body 72 or may be an integral part of the body 72. The strip 70 maybe repositioned from one surface to another without damaging the strip70 of the surfaces.

* * *

It is understood that the embodiments of the invention described aboveare only particular examples which serve to illustrate the principles ofthe invention. Modifications and alternative embodiments of theinvention are contemplated which do not depart from the scope of theinvention as defined by the foregoing teachings and appended claims. Itis intended that the claims cover all such modifications and alternativeembodiments that fall within their scope.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A repositionable merchandising strip fordisplaying products, the strip comprising: a thin body having a frontsurface and a back surface; a layer of back adhesive covering some orall of the back surface; a back carrier adhered to the layer of backadhesive; a layer of back removable adhesive disposed on some or all ofthe back carrier, the layer of back removable adhesive allowing thestrip to be removably adhered to a surface and repositioned to the sameor a different surface; a peel-away back layer releasably attached tothe back removable adhesive layer; and attachment means extendingoutwardly from the body front surface and configured to hold theproducts.
 2. The repositionable merchandising strip of claim 1 whereinthe attachment means comprises hooks.
 3. The repositionablemerchandising strip of claim 2 wherein the hooks are an integral part ofthe body.
 4. The repositionable merchandising strip of claim 3 whereinportions of the front surface are covered with a front adhesive and apart of each hook is removably adhered to the front adhesive.
 5. Therepositionable merchandising strip of claim 4 wherein the front adhesiveis a pressure sensitive adhesive.
 6. The repositionable merchandisingstrip of claim 5 wherein the back adhesive is a permanent adhesive. 7.The repositionable merchandising strip of claim 6 wherein the backcarrier is made of vinyl.
 8. The repositionable merchandising strip ofclaim 7 wherein the back removable adhesive is a micro bead adhesive. 9.The repositionable merchandising strip of claim 8 wherein the micro beadadhesive is acrylic based.
 10. The repositionable merchandising strip ofclaim 9 wherein the body is flexible.
 11. A repositionable merchandisingstrip for displaying products, the strip comprising: a body having afront surface and a back surface; a layer of back adhesive covering someor all of the back surface; a back carrier adhered to the layer of backadhesive; a layer of back removable adhesive disposed on some or all ofthe back carrier, the layer of back removable adhesive allowing thestrip to be removably adhered to a surface and repositioned to the sameor a different surface; a peel-away back layer releasably attached tothe back removable adhesive layer; and hooks extending outwardly fromthe body front surface, the hooks being integrally formed with the body.12. The repositionable merchandising strip of claim 11 wherein portionsof the front surface are covered with a front adhesive and a part ofeach hook is removably adhered to the front adhesive.
 13. Therepositionable merchandising strip of claim 12 wherein the frontadhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive.
 14. The repositionablemerchandising strip of claim 13 wherein the back adhesive is a permanentadhesive.
 15. The repositionable merchandising strip of claim 14 whereinthe back carrier is made of vinyl.
 16. The repositionable merchandisingstrip of claim 15 wherein the back removable adhesive is an acrylicbased micro bead adhesive.
 17. The repositionable merchandising strip ofclaim 16 wherein the body is flexible.
 18. A repositionablemerchandising strip comprising: a flexible body having a front surfaceand a back surface; a layer of back permanent adhesive covering some orall of the back surface; a back carrier adhered to the layer of backadhesive; a layer of back removable adhesive disposed on some or all ofthe back carrier, the layer of back removable adhesive allowing thestrip to be removably adhered to a surface and repositioned to the sameor a different surface; a peel-away back layer releasably attached tothe back removable adhesive layer; and hooks extending outwardly fromthe body front surface, the hooks being integrally formed with the body;wherein the strip may be adhered to both flat and curved surfaces. 19.The repositionable merchandising strip of claim 18 wherein: the hooksare die cut from the body.